JOHN HENRY John Henry when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's knee Picked up an hammer in his little right hand Said "Hammer be the death of me me me, Hammer be the death of me!" Some say he's born down in Texas Some say he's born up in Maine I just say he was a Louisiana man Leader of a steel-driving chain gang Leader on a steel-driving gang "Well", the captain said to John Henry "I'm gonna bring my steam drill around Gonna bring my steam drill out on the job Gonna whup that steel on down down down Whup that steel on down!" John Henry said to the captain (what he say?) "Bring your steam drill around You can bring your steam drill out on the job I'm gonna beat your steam drill down down down Beat your steam drill down!" John Henry said to his Shaker "Shaker you had better pray If you miss your six feet of steel Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day day day Tomorrow'll be your buryin' day!" Now the Shaker said to John Henry "Well a man ain't nothing but a man I'm throwing a hungry farm, from my hit till sundown Doing all that any man can can can Doing all that any man can" Woody Guthrie > canzoni > Woody Guthrie Sings Folk Songs